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What Are the Heparin Protocols?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Heparin protocols are standardized procedures personnel at a hospital or clinic follow when they administer heparin to reduce the chance of errors. Heparin is a potent anticoagulant medication, and a patient could become very ill if care providers make a mistake. Protocols create a simple, clear guideline for how to handle this medication and eliminate guesswork. There may be a facility-wide procedure everyone must follow, and some doctors also have their own protocols.

When heparin is indicated because a patient has a clotting problem and she needs treatment to limit the formation of new clots, the heparin protocols must be followed. These start with obtaining an accurate weight and using a standardized dosing chart. Doctors usually must write out their orders in full, including the initial loading dose to get the clotting under control as well as the recommended bolus dose. Some facilities encourage doctors to round off their doses so a patient receives, for example, 12 units, rather than 12.358 or some other fractionated number that could create a margin of error.

Heparine protocols include regular blood testing.
Heparine protocols include regular blood testing.

In addition to providing standard procedures when writing up orders for heparin, the heparin protocols also offer guidance on how to monitor patients. This includes regular blood testing to see how the patient responds to treatment. The partial thromboplastin time (PTT) test is a measure of blood clotting the hospital can use to check on the patient's response to heparin. The goal is to give the patient enough anticoagulant to resolve the clotting problem, without giving so much that the patient loops back in the other direction and has dangerously low clotting factors that could cause a dangerous bleed.

Heparin may be administered when a patient is at risk of developing a blood clot.
Heparin may be administered when a patient is at risk of developing a blood clot.

The use of heparin protocols reduces mistakes in a clinical setting. Even experienced care providers can make errors, and standards create a mechanism for all members of the care team to speak up if they identify a problem. If a doctor estimates the dose, for example, a nurse can say that she didn't see the doctor checking the patient's weight as the heparin protocols mandate. The doctor will need to respond, and this can provide an opportunity to correct a dosing error that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.

Heparin protocols rely on the entire care team to ensure the medication is properly administered and progress monitored.
Heparin protocols rely on the entire care team to ensure the medication is properly administered and progress monitored.

Most facilities write up their protocols for heparin and other drugs, as well as various medical situations, in an employee manual. All new hires must read through the manual and usually sign documentation to indicate that they read and understood the information. Copies are maintained at locations like nursing stations for quick reference, as the protocols often include dosing charts and other useful materials.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

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    • Heparine protocols include regular blood testing.
      By: Von Schonertagen
      Heparine protocols include regular blood testing.
    • Heparin may be administered when a patient is at risk of developing a blood clot.
      By: NorGal
      Heparin may be administered when a patient is at risk of developing a blood clot.
    • Heparin protocols rely on the entire care team to ensure the medication is properly administered and progress monitored.
      By: Andres Rodriguez
      Heparin protocols rely on the entire care team to ensure the medication is properly administered and progress monitored.
    • Heparin use and dosage should be noted in a patient's medical chart.
      By: Tom Wang
      Heparin use and dosage should be noted in a patient's medical chart.
    • Heparin is often used to flush central line catheters to prevent blood from clotting in the tubes.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Heparin is often used to flush central line catheters to prevent blood from clotting in the tubes.
    • Heparin protocols dictate that a doctor check the patient's weight.
      By: jovannig
      Heparin protocols dictate that a doctor check the patient's weight.
    • Long clotting times may require a reduction in heparin dose, because severe bleeding may occur from a minor nosebleed or injury.
      By: Monika Wisniewska
      Long clotting times may require a reduction in heparin dose, because severe bleeding may occur from a minor nosebleed or injury.